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Top Sounds - Comps

BURNING BRITAIN {Cherry Red}PODCAST PLAYEDFollowing on from the utterly essential ‘Action Time Vision’ 4-CD set of late 70s independent Punk singles comes this baby; another 4-CD set this time looking at the early 80s over a whopping 114 tracks! It would be easy to think that this focuses on the UK82/ Street Punk sound, but it goes much further, so incorprates the vital Anarcho bands of the era as well as some of the ‘77 vanguard like THE DAMNED and THE VIBRATORS. I could list a bunch of bands, but you’d get a better idea if I told you all your faves from the likes of Clay, Mortarhate, Riot City, Small Wonder, Spiderleg, No Future et al are featured. DISCHARGE and CONFLICT; SUBHUMANS and CHAOTIC DISCHORD; OMEGA TRIBE and TOY DOLLS; POISON GIRLS and THE ADICTS; THE MOB and THE EXPLOITED - get the idea? Not only do you get all those tracks, many of which appear for the first time on CD and include many lesser-known gems, you get a comprehensive 64 page booklet of band biographies written by Ian Glasper. Like ‘ATV’, it’s all wrapped in a hardcase and looks fantastic. Yes, most readers will have some of these tracks already, but I can guarantee you’ll find a total gem from an unknown band, or find a name band that had passed you by. Even if you don’t, the quality of the whole package is simply stunning. Both Cherry Red and Glasper should be commended as a lot of work, time, effort and sheer love has gone into this. If you have any association with Punk, consider yourself a Punk or adhere to the morals of Punk then this should be pretty much mandatory. (31.08.18)

Damaged Goods 1988/2018 {Damaged Goods} PODCAST PLAYED30 years for a label is pretty damn good, and over 500 releases is even more impressive. When that label has been run with a total DIY ethic and is genuinely reputable, it’s virtually miraculous. And so we have this 37 track double CD compilation of the very best of Damaged Goods Records. You all should know the name, you all should have some of their records. This mixes old greatness - SNIVELLING SHITS, REVILLOS, J CHURCH and even MANIC STREET PREACHERS with equally great newness of personal faves CYANIDE PILLS, CUTE LEPERS, DAGGER DEBS, JOHNNY MOPED and SENIOR SERVICE. Add on various incarnations of BILLY CHILDISH and HOLLY GOLIGHTLY, THEE HEADCOATS, WAT TYLER, HELEN LOVE... I could easily go on but with 500 records and 168 bands to choose from, I’ll wager that you’ll revel in some old favourites, find some new gems and yearn for a few omitted favourites (no TV PERSONALITIES?). It’s packaged in a smart three-way fold out sleeve, has a neat booklet with covers from the records the tracks are taken from and a list of all the bands that have appeared on the label. Lovely jubbly!! Looking forward to the 50th anniversary boxset - make all rare stuff please - that sound a plan, Ian? (31.12.18)

FAT WRECK HOLIDAY 2017 {Fat Wreck} Splatter coloured 10" vinyl comp here mixing some of Fat’s older bands (GOOD RIDDANCE, CHIXDIGGIT!, SNUFF, FACE TO FACE) with some of the newer (BAD COP/ BAD COP, PEARS, GET DEAD, BOMBPOPS) with middlers TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET and REAL MCKENZIES to fill it out. Best bits by far include GOOD RIDDANCE with ‘Dry Season’, CHIXDIGGIT with a new song, FACE TO FACE sounding hugely convincing with ‘Middling Around’ and SNUFF with ‘From Underneath The Ice’. Other notables include an unreleased song from THE BOMBPOPS (which has since been on the ‘Dear Beer’ 7") and opener BAD COP/ BAD COP with ‘Retrograde’ which was also the opener to their ‘Warriors’ album. Bold cover artwork from Chris Shary and the 10" format always works best for these kinda things I reckon. More than a 7" to keep the interest yet not dragging on for too long to become boring or generic. Fun stuff for Fat heads. (15.08.18)

Click HERE for material reviewed prior to 2018 including:Action Time Vision: A Story of Independent UK Punk 1976-79, At The Heart Of What Is Wrong With The British Establishment, Consolidated Records Label Sampler 2015, Dope Guns And Fucking In The Streets Vol 1-11, Four Way Split, Fat Music Vol. 8:Going Nowhere Fat, Looking For Johnny: The Legend Of Johnny Thunders Original Soundtrack, Mild In The Streets, New Wave Of The Grave New Beat Vol. 2, Swanfest 2016 and Without Kibou The Is Nothing Vol. 4